This quote, in various forms, has been attributed to a surprising number of highly acclaimed politicians and lawyers. Nobody really knows who first said it, but it still rings true today.

As Americans, we hold Liberty as one of the highest unalienable rights given to man. That's why it is so hard to see our liberty under attack on so many fronts. One such front that's near and dear to my heart is my Liberty to practice religion. Regardless of my personal beliefs, I feel strongly that everyone should have the liberty to practice (or not practice) theirs. Those who wish to Pledge Allegiance to the Flag, should have the right to do so. And those who don't should have the right to stand respectfully by. Those who believe in the practice of birth control should have the right to access it, and those who don't believe in it should not have to pay for it. We should have the Liberty to refuse service, and the liberty to boycott, but we should not expect to receive goods and services that were not paid for.

Whenever I hear of a law being passed that forces people to act or pay for things contrary to their religious belief I feel compelled to fight it.

Afraid I have to completely disagree with you on this one. This does not fit my definition of liberty at all. If there is an article of your faith, eg birth control, then you choose whether to use that, you can try and persuade others - lawfully - to do the same, or not to legislate for it, but you can't pick and choose what taxes to pay once it has become law. Church and state are separate for a reason. You can't take a tapas approach and just pick and choose to support those areas that fit with your personal beliefs. To me, that's not liberty.

I agree that your example is not liberty. I wasn't talking about taxes. I was talking about my right to oppose a law that forces charities to provide birth control when they are sponsored by religions who oppose the practice. In other words, my right to lawfully persuade, through elections and voice.

Let me be clear, though, I personally have nothing against birth control, and I am going to pay my taxes, even when I don't agree with how they are spent.

I also agree that Church and State should be separate. That's why I have a problem when State begins to legislate in the Churches. But, as you said, I can't pick and choose which laws to follow once they are laws.

Thanks for stopping by and offering your opinion! I love learning what other people think, especially when they don't agree with me.

Reply

Al

4/15/2015 02:04:25 am

I'm not sure we do disagree after all! It's interesting listening to how different countries have different cultures, and different relationships/tensions between church and state, even when we're both from english-speaking, democratic western nations. Vive la difference, as our French cousins would say!